Latics 0-1 Arsenal

Latics were undone against Arsenal by a dubious penalty on the hour mark, but still had enough chances to have pulled something from the game.

The first half saw Arsenal have the opening opportunity when a good move left Oxlade-Chamberlain clear to shoot, but Al Habsi was equal to the strike and pushed the shot around his near post for a corner

Kone had the Latics first effort on goal, the Ivory Coast international burst through the Arsenal midfield, he drew the defence but shot tamely from 25 yards with Ronnie Stam in acres of space to his right

Kone had a great chance to score the games opening goal when a delightful Di Santo ball put him clear, Kone raced down on goal, unfortunately he hit his effort wide of the target, but the Latics were getting on top

The second half brought the dubious penalty, Walcott retrieved an over hit pass, he moved into the Latics area, Beausejour was slow to react and got caught the wrong side of his man, Walcott caught the Latics defenders backside with his heal and went down in a flash, referee Jon Moss pointed to the spot and despite the protests Arteta put Arsenal a goal up

The Latics huffed and puffed for the rest of the game but couldn`t find the goal to get themselves level, though Dave Jones went mightily close with a rasping shot from the edge of the area.
Teams
Latics – Al Habsi, Stam, Boyce, Figueroa, Beausejour, Jones, McCarthy, McArthur, Maloney (Gomez 89), Di Santo (McManaman 76), Kone
Unused subs – Pollitt, Golobart, Fyvie, Boselli, Caldwell

Arsenal – Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Atrteta, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Ramsey 75), Podolski (Coquelin 79), Walcott, Cazorla (Koscielny 90)

Subs not used – Mannone, Jenkinson, Gervinho, Arshavin